Asylum Lawyer In Houston

What is it and how to apply for Asylum Status

Usually, an applicant must prove that he/she has a “well-founded fear of persecution” based on his/her religion, race, social membership, political opinion or national origin. Once granted, the asylum seeker is called an “Asylee”.

Persons inside the United States can apply for it in two ways:

Affirmative Asylum:

The application must be submitted to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a division of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). USCIS will schedule an interview with a specially trained officer in one of the eight US Asylum offices. This submission is called “affirmative application”. If the USCIS officer does not grant the immigration application and the applicant does not have a lawful status, he/she is referred to the court for removal proceedings, where he/she may renew the request for it through the defensive process and appear before an immigration judge.

Defensive Asylum:

A “defensive” application is filed as a way to prevent deportation from the U. S. when the refugee is in removal proceedings. If a defensive application is filed, the judge at the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) in the Department of Justice will decide on the outcome.

In both cases, the application must be filed within one year after entering the United States; otherwise, the application will automatically be considered invalid. The exception to the rule are allowed for extraordinary circumstances.

Requirements for an Asylum Application

An application usually consists of the following documents:

Official application/form

Affidavit statement (your story detailing the reasons for your fear of returning to your home country, conditions in the country, political situation in your country, etc.)

Documentation in support of your statements

Passport

Photo

Marriage certificate and/or birth certificate

other documentation

Attorney Gasana – Houston Asylum Lawyer

The success of your immigration application, among other factors, primarily depends on:

Individual circumstances, incidents involving aplicants, and conditions in the country.

How well the case was prepared and documented.

The amount of harm (persecution) that occurred and / or might occur.

As the applicant responds to the interview, does their story seem plausible to the official and if the statements about fears of returning to their native country are genuine.

Politicians (relations) of the United States to applicants from specific countries.

A person may apply for asylum, even if he does not have any legal immigration status in the United States (for example, the status has expired). Once an application has been accepted by USCIS, a person is authorized to remain in the country while his application is under review. A person may at this time request a Departure Document (“Advance Parole”) if he needs to leave and enter the country. However, it is not recommended to go to his home country as this may weaken the persuasiveness of the statement about the fear of persecution in his home country.

Usually, the applicant waits to receive an appointment for an interview with an asylum officer. If the interview is successful, asylum will be provided after the interview, and a written notice will be sent in a few weeks by mail. If it is not granted after the interview, the officer refers the case to the judge. The judge will schedule the day of the main hearing. Depending on the workload of a specific court, the hearing could take place in months or years.

The applicant may apply for an employment authorization document (EAD) 150 days from the date of filing the initial application.

If it is denied by a judge, the applicant may file an appeal with the Board of Immigration Appeals.

Like refugees, political Asylee must, in addition to well-founded fears of persecution, be checked in their biographies to see if there are any reasons why they might not be allowed in the US, for example, because of their criminal history. Applicants must submit fingerprints and be tested by all relevant US agencies, including the FBI, INS, as well as pass through the Department of State databases and other Information databases.

Contact Our Houston Asylum Lawyer

Asylum processing can be complicated and time consuming. Get immigration help from the experienced and dedicated Houston Attorney Gasana and we will guide you through the process. Call our office at 281-809-5599 to schedule your legal consultation today.

Houston Immigration Lawyer Gasana has focused their practice on law applicable to family members of the green card holders or U.S. citizens, foreign skilled workers, U.S. employer and investor visa; waivers and deportation cases. Claudine Gasana is one of the Houston best immigration attorneys, Houston, TX top immigration lawyer in Houston. Her practice areas range from family green card solutions to a variety of non-immigrant work visas such as H1B, TN, F-1, and O-1 for legal cases in oil and gas, heathcare, higher education industries and more. Contact an experienced Houston Visa Lawyer or visit our immigration office today.

The information on this website is for general purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. The reader should consult with a Licensed Attorney prior to filing for any petition as each individual case may be different.